Government outlines ambitious road infrastructure agenda for the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Public Works and Communications, Eduardo Estrella, outlined the Dominican Government’s road infrastructure agenda, emphasizing projects aimed at improving connectivity, reducing congestion and strengthening interregional transportation.
During his participation in the LA Agenda Semanal program, Estrella said the country has one of the largest road networks in Latin America and highlighted the priority given to the entrances to Greater Santo Domingo and the elimination of traffic bottlenecks.
Among the projects in the capital are improvements at Plaza de la Bandera, the underground connection with Avenida Isabel Aguiar and Avenida Luperón, Avenida Ecológica and the entrance to the Duarte Highway at kilometer 9. The Government is also advancing three planned overpasses at kilometers 28, 22 and 17 of the Duarte Highway. The first has been awarded, the second is in the award process and the third is under tender through RD Vial.
According to Estrella, these projects and other bypasses will eventually allow vehicles traveling north from Santo Domingo to do so without encountering traffic lights. He also said the completion of the Amber Highway would facilitate travel between Puerto Plata and Pedernales without interruptions at traffic lights.
The minister also announced the tendering of an expansion of the Sánchez Highway between the Haina tollbooth and the ring road, providing an additional route into the capital and reducing dependence on the kilometer 9 and Pintura entrances.
Another major project is the new bascule bridge over the Ozama River, which will replace the existing floating bridge. Estrella said the contract will be awarded this week and that, unlike the current bridge, which can remain closed for several hours while ships pass, the new structure would require only about 15 minutes to open.
On the Duarte Highway, authorities are prioritizing improvements toward Villa Altagracia and between Santiago’s airport and Loma Miranda, including wider bridges, additional lanes and U-turns designed to eliminate dangerous crossings and reduce accident-prone areas.
Bypasses and regional connectivity
The Government is also advancing major bypass projects in Navarrete, Los Alcarrizos, Moca, San Francisco de Macorís and La Otra Banda, in addition to the completed Baní bypass and ongoing work in Azua.
The Navarrete bypass, scheduled for completion this year, will improve access to the Northwest Line and the port of Manzanillo. It will be complemented by a six-kilometer extension toward the Esperanza intersection and an overpass to separate traffic heading toward Esperanza, Mao and Santiago Rodríguez from vehicles continuing toward Montecristi and Dajabón.
In the south, authorities plan to tender an extension from the Baní bypass to the Ocoa intersection, including an overpass near the Los Pilones bridge and another at the 15 de Azua area.
Estrella also highlighted the nearly completed Avenida Ecológica as a second eastern entrance to Santo Domingo, connecting with the Caucedo port and helping distribute traffic along the Las Américas Highway.
957 kilometers of roads under construction
The minister reported that 957 kilometers of roads are currently under construction, with another 141 kilometers expected to be completed within the next three months.
He cited San Francisco de Macorís as an example, where 46 kilometers of roads have recently been completed and more than 50 additional kilometers are planned.
A 103-kilometer corridor connecting the eastern and northeastern regions with the Northwest will also reduce the need to travel through Santo Domingo, incorporating routes such as Bayaguana-Monte Plata and Monte Plata-Cevicos.
The infrastructure program also includes 220 bridges. Of these, 51 are currently under construction, while 21 are expected to be completed within the next three months. Another 43 bridges have been awarded, 65 are scheduled for tender and 35 are undergoing repair projects.
A separate program involving 150 bridges is being developed with support from the Inter-American Development Bank, while major repairs are planned for the Duarte, Hermanos Patiño, Juan Bosch and San Pedro de Macorís bridges.
Estrella said the overall strategy is being implemented in stages according to national priorities and supported by an infrastructure oversight commission comprising representatives from the public and private sectors.
